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ABSTRACT
This research contribution is drafted in the backdrop of emerging challenges faced by academia and industry for the sustainable growth. University is considered as the centre of learning and personality development of the youth .The student affairs department is the nucleus of all activities related with academic and non-academic activities of the students. The changing environs of learning and personality development demand the out of the box thinking and an innovative activity from the student affairs department and professionals. This research article presents the detailed challenges faced by the academia to revitalize the student affairs department and to qualify for the expectations of the students and to the prospective industry and for the market trends too. In this research paper, the student affairs management is presented with various roles, skills and functions of student affairs professionals for gaining high and long term goals. A case study from the public sector university is presented to support the arguments.
Key Words
Management, student affairs, academia, students, youth
1. Introduction
The turbulent wave of change on the forefront of socioeconomic fabric of society and nations demands a vital contribution from academia and especially from the centers of higher education and learning. Academia is facing the impending challenges like lifelong learning, equal opportunity and access to education and technology, financial support, counseling and career guidance, the improvement of support and developmental services, enhancing the softskills of graduates and widening the job opportunity prospects along with alumni interaction, providing society with skilled human capital and potential that can contribute in the formation of true global knowledge based economy. The emerging socio-economic trends of society demands a great role form the higher education institutions for promoting the student-centered activities and plans to produce effective and efficient human resource for contributing at community, national, regional and international stages.
Student Affairs (SA) department at any higher educational institution is a hub for executing many functions and roles. It has to provide guidance and counseling for the three major transitions faced by the students. The first transition is the arrival of students from colleges to university, then their stay, learning and life at university and finally their transition from university to society and professional world. The SA professionals should design their...